JP3231428B2 - Level - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a level. For example, the present invention relates to a level used when measuring the flatness of a surface plate or a ground surface, or when installing a machine tool horizontally.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bubble level has been used to determine a horizontal plane and to measure a slight inclination from the horizontal plane. A bubble level is a glass tube (bubble tube) that forms part of an arc with a relatively large radius, and is made of alcohol or ether, which is free from freezing at low temperatures and has high flowability, leaving only one small bubble. This is a structure in which this is attached to a block with a flat bottom. With the bottom of the block horizontal, the bubble is at the top of the bubble tube, at the center of the arc. Therefore, this position is set to 0 point, and a scale for measuring the movement of the bubble is cut on the bubble tube.

For example, when measuring the flatness of a surface plate using an air bubble level, the bottom of a block is installed at a measurement point on the surface plate, and then the position of the air bubble is read from a scale. Similarly, after installing the bottom surface of the block at the other plurality of measurement points, if the position of the bubble is read from the scale at each measurement point, the flatness of the surface plate can be measured based on these readings. . In addition, when the machine tool is installed horizontally, for example, if the height of each leg is adjusted so that the position of the air bubble becomes zero while the bottom surface of the block is installed on a bed or the like, the machine tool can be horizontally installed. Can be installed in

[0004]

However, in the conventional bubble level, since the position of the air bubble must be visually read by the measurer in relation to the scale, the reading tends to be inaccurate, and the measurer tends to be inaccurate. Tends to cause individual differences. In addition, when reading, the position of the measurement is limited because the measurer must look into the position of the bubble from directly above the bubble tube. For example, in a place where a relatively large space cannot be secured above the position where the block is installed, the measurer cannot look into the position just above the bubble tube. There is a disadvantage that it is limited to a place where a large space can be secured. Further, structurally, the inclination from the horizontal plane is measured from the position of the bubble moving in the bubble tube forming a part of the arc, so that only a slight inclination can be measured.
That is, there is a disadvantage that the measurement range of the inclination is narrow.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to eliminate all of the drawbacks of the prior art, to be able to accurately measure the inclination of the surface to be measured without reading errors and without individual differences. rather small, it is also limited, moreover,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a level that can quickly read the inclination of a surface to be measured .

[0006]

The spirit level of the present invention has the following structure to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, a main body block having a flat bottom surface, a pendulum supported by the main body block so as to be pivotable about an axis parallel to the smooth surface, and a tilt of the pendulum with respect to the main body block are detected as electric signals. Angle detection means and display means
Processing the electrical signal from the angle detection means,
A data processing device for displaying on the display means,
A pulse processing device that converts the electric signal from the angle detecting means into a pulse signal.
Signal processing circuit that outputs the
Counter for counting pulses from road and averaging key
Is counted, provided that is pressed.
The peak value when the operation is reversed is the preset number of times
The final inclination angle
And an averaging circuit to be displayed on the display means after estimating
It is characterized by comprising. In addition,
The data processor has a zero set key and a 1/2 set key.
The counter when the zero set key is pressed.
Set the count number to 0, and
When the set key is pressed, the count of the counter
And a counter control circuit for setting to １ ／.
It is desirable.

[0007]

In order to measure the inclination of the surface to be measured, the bottom surface of the main body block is mounted on the surface to be measured. Then, the pendulum tilts with respect to the main body block according to the tilt of the surface to be measured. As a result, after the inclination of the pendulum with respect to the main body block is detected as an electric signal by the angle detecting means, it is displayed on the display means. Therefore, since the measurer only needs to read the display value displayed on the display means, it is possible to accurately measure the inclination of the surface to be measured without reading errors and without individual differences. In addition, since the display means can be located at a place that is easy for the measurer to see, there is little restriction to the measurement place. Also, if the averaging key is
From the peak value of the counter, provided that it is pressed.
The final inclination angle of the child is estimated and the inclination angle is displayed on the display.
An averaging circuit for digital display is provided,
When it takes a long time to stop or vibration from outside
Therefore, even when the pendulum does not stop completely,
The inclination can be read immediately. Also, zero set
When the key is pressed, the count of the counter becomes 0
Set and half-set key pressed
Under the condition that the count number of the counter is halved.
Readjustment of absolute horizontal 0 degree by providing counter control circuit
Can be easily performed. In other words, absolute horizontal 0 degrees
The position is set exactly when shipped from the factory.
However, due to aging and careless handling, etc.
If the target horizontal position is 0 degrees,
The adjustment can then be made. First, the body block
After mounting on the surface plate, press the zero set key to
Set the count of the counter to 0. Next, the main body
Flip (the ends in the longitudinal direction will be in opposite positions to each other)
And then set it on the surface plate, then set 1/2
Press the key. Then, the counter control circuit
The count number is set to 1/2. That is, the current
Reduce the count to 1/2. As a result,
The tilt angle of the pendulum 17 is displayed as an absolute horizontal 0 degree
be able to.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a level according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a level according to the present embodiment. The level is composed of a level body 1 and a data processing device 3 connected to the level body 1 via a cable 2 and processing an output signal from the level body 1 in a predetermined manner.

The level body 1 is, as shown in FIG.
It has a rectangular parallelepiped metal body block 11 having flanges on both sides of the bottom surface. In the main body block 11, smooth surfaces 13A and 13B are respectively formed on both sides of an inverted V-shaped groove 12 formed along the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface, and open from the top surface to the bottom surface at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction. A rectangular through hole 14 is formed. In the through-hole 14, a rotating shaft 16 is parallel to the smooth surfaces 13A, 13B and through the bearing block 15A, 15B via bearings 15A, 15B.
1 is rotatably supported along the width direction. The upper end of a pendulum 17 having a fan 18 at the lower end is fixed to the rotating shaft 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fan 18 of the pendulum 17 has a heavy weight 1 made of lead having a large specific gravity on one side.
9 is mounted, and a reflection-type main scale 20 in which an optical grating is arranged in a fan shape around the rotation axis 16 is mounted on the opposite side.
On the side wall of the through hole 14 facing the main scale 20,
A detector 21 constituting angle detecting means together with the main scale 20 is attached to the main scale 20 with a predetermined gap. The detector 21 includes an index scale 22 in which reference optical gratings are arranged in a fan-like manner like the main scale 20, a light source (not shown) for irradiating light to both scales 20, 22, and a light reflected by the main scale 20. It includes a photoelectric conversion element (not shown) for converting into an electric signal, and outputs the inclination of the pendulum 17 with respect to the main body block 11 as an electric signal.

As shown in FIG. 4, the data processing device 3 includes a signal processing circuit 31 for processing an output signal from the detector 21, a counter 32 for counting pulses from the signal processing circuit 31, A counter control circuit 33 for setting the count number of the counter 32 to 0 or 1/2, an averaging circuit 34, and a display mode conversion circuit 35
A switch 36 for switching the output from the counter 32, the averaging circuit 34, and the display mode conversion circuit 35;
A digital display 37 for digitally displaying data provided through the switch 36 is provided. These circuits are housed in a housing 38 (see FIG. 1).

Although not shown, the signal processing circuit 31 includes a waveform shaping circuit for shaping an output signal from the detector 21 into a rectangular wave, a dividing circuit, a rotation direction discriminating circuit, and the like. Are output by the number corresponding to the inclination angle of the pendulum 17 with respect to the main body block 11. The counter control circuit 33 includes the housing 3
When the zero set key 41 provided on the front of the counter 8 is pressed, the count number of the counter 32 is set to 0, and
When the set key 42 is depressed, the count number of the counter 32 is set to one half thereof.

The averaging circuit 34 inverts the count operation of the counter 32 (ie, subtracts from addition, subtracts from subtraction) on condition that an averaging key 43 provided on the front of the housing 38 is pressed. The peak value at the time of inversion (addition) is taken in a predetermined number of times (for example, 6 times), the count number is added to estimate the final inclination angle, and the inclination angle is digitally displayed through the switch 36. Is displayed on the display 37. The display mode conversion circuit 35
The counter 32 is provided on condition that the display mode switching key 44 provided on the front of the housing 38 is pressed.
Is converted into a height H per meter, and the converted number is displayed on the digital display 37 through the switch 36. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 45 denotes a power on / off switch.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. For example, in order to measure the flatness of the surface plate, the smooth surfaces 13A and 13B of the main body block 11 are installed at measurement points on the surface plate, and after confirming that the pendulum 17 is stationary, the zero set key 41 is pressed. Push. Then, the counter control circuit 33
Sets the count number of the counter 32 to 0. As a result, "0" is displayed on the digital display 37. Therefore, hereinafter, this measurement point becomes a reference plane.

Next, when the smooth surfaces 13A and 13B of the main body block 11 are installed at other measurement locations on the surface plate, the pendulum 17 is inclined with respect to the main body block 11 in accordance with the inclination of the measurement location with respect to the reference plane. . Then, body block 1
The tilt of the pendulum 17 with respect to 1 is detected by the detector 21, and the signal processing circuit 31, the counter 32, and the switch 3
6 and is digitally displayed on the digital display 37.
Therefore, by reading the display value of the digital display 37, the inclination with respect to the reference plane can be known.

At this time, the display on the digital display 37 is set to 1
To display the height H per m, the display mode switching key 44 is pressed. Then, the display mode conversion circuit 3
In step 5, the count number (inclination angle data) of the counter 32 is fetched, the data is converted into a height H per meter, and then displayed on the digital display 37 through the switch 36. When the display mode switching key 44 is pressed again, the count of the counter 32 is directly
6 is displayed on the digital display 37. Therefore,
The inclination of the measurement point can be selectively switched and displayed in both the angle and the height H per meter.

By the way, when the smooth surfaces 13A and 13B of the main body block 11 are installed at the measurement points on the surface plate, the pendulum 17 swings around the rotating shaft 16 and it takes time until the pendulum 17 comes to rest. There is. Alternatively, the pendulum 17 may not completely stop due to a minute vibration from the outside. In such a case, the averaging key 43 is pressed. Then, the averaging circuit 34 captures the peak value when the counting operation of the counter 32 is inverted by a predetermined number of times (for example, six times), adds the count numbers, and estimates the final inclination angle. Thereafter, the inclination angle is displayed on the digital display 37 through the switch 36.

For example, it is assumed that the count of the counter 32 gradually converges to a certain value as shown in FIG. 5 by the swing of the pendulum 17. At this time, in the averaging circuit 34, on the condition that the averaging key 43 is pressed, the peak value C ₁ when the counting operation of the counter 32 is reversed is performed.
Sequentially captures -C _6, after the final inclination angle estimated by adding these values C ₁ -C _6, switching device and the inclination angle 36
Through the digital display 37. Therefore, even if the pendulum 17 takes a long time to stop or the pendulum 17 does not completely stop due to external vibrations, etc., the inclination of the measurement point with respect to the reference plane can be immediately read by simply pressing the averaging key 43. it can.

Incidentally, regarding the position of absolute horizontal 0 degrees,
If it is set correctly at the time of shipment from the factory, but the absolute horizontal position is 0 degrees due to aging or careless handling, adjust as follows. First, after the main body block 11 is installed on the surface plate, the zero set key 41 is pressed to set the count of the counter 32 to zero. Next, the main body block 11 is inverted (both ends in the longitudinal direction are inverted so as to be at opposite positions).
And then set it on the surface plate, and then press the 1/2 set key 42. Then, the counter control circuit 33 sets the counter 32
Is set to 1/2 of the count number. That is, it is set to １ ／ of the current count number. As a result, thereafter, the inclination angle of the pendulum 17 can be displayed by setting this point as an absolute horizontal 0 degree.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the pendulum 17 is swingably supported on the main body block 11 with the rotation shaft 16 as a fulcrum, and the detector 21 for detecting the angle of the pendulum 17 as an electric signal is provided. Since the data processing device 3 for performing predetermined processing on the output signal from the detector 21 and digitally displaying the signal is provided, when the main body block 11 is installed on the surface to be measured, the pendulum 17 is moved according to the inclination of the surface to be measured. Since the tilt with respect to the block 11 and the tilt of the pendulum 17 are detected as an electric signal by the detector 21 and displayed on the digital display 37, the tilt of the surface to be measured can be read without error and without individual differences. It can be measured accurately.

A cable 2 is connected to a level body 1 mounted on the surface to be measured and a data processing device 3 having a digital display 37 for displaying a value obtained by subjecting an output signal from the level body 1 to predetermined processing. Since the connection is made via the level, the measurer can read the value of the digital display 37 at a location remote from the position where the level main body 1 is installed, so that a relatively large space is provided above the position where the level main body 1 is installed. The inclination can be measured even in a place where it cannot be secured. That is, the restriction on the measurement place can be relaxed.

Further, since the heavy weight 19 made of lead is attached to the fan portion 18 of the pendulum 17, the pendulum 17 can be more quickly stopped by the action of the heavy weight 19, so that efficient measurement can be performed. Moreover, the averaging key 4
An averaging circuit 3 for estimating the final tilt angle of the pendulum 17 from the peak value of the counter 32 on condition that the counter 3 is pressed and digitally displaying the tilt angle on the digital display 37.
Since the pendulum 17 is provided, the inclination of the surface to be measured can be immediately read even when the pendulum 17 takes a long time to stand still or when the pendulum 17 is not completely stopped due to external vibration or the like.

A display mote conversion circuit 35 is provided which converts the tilt angle of the pendulum 17 into a height H per meter and digitally displays it on the digital display 37 on condition that the display mode switching key 44 is pressed. Therefore, it is possible to selectively switch and display the inclination of the measurement point based on both the angle and the height H per meter. Furthermore, 1/2 set key 4
Since the counter control circuit 33 for reducing the count number of the counter 32 to 設 け is provided on condition that 2 is pressed, readjustment of absolute horizontal 0 ° can be easily performed.

The spirit level of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but includes the following modifications. For example, if the data processing device 3 is integrated into the level body 1, it is convenient to carry. Moreover, if the main body block 11 constituting the level main body 1 is composed of a ceramic base and a synthetic resin cover, the weight can be reduced.
More portable and convenient. In addition, if the mounting position of the digital display 37 is arranged at the position where the measurer can easily see,
There is no restriction on the measurement location.

As for the angle detecting means, the photoelectric detector 2 including the scales 20 and 22 described in the above embodiment is used.
Not limited to 1, any type such as a capacitance type or a magnetic type may be used as long as the inclination of the pendulum 17 with respect to the main body block 11 can be detected as an electric signal. Further, the display means is not limited to the digital display, but may be a meter type for reading the angle from the deflection and the scale of the hands.

[0026]

As described above, according to the level of the present invention,
The measurement surface without reading error of inclination of, and it is possible to accurately measure without individual difference, measurement location to be rather small, it is limited, moreover, quickly inclination of the surface to be measured
It can be expected that the data can be read quickly .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a data processing device in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the pendulum converges to a certain value while swinging in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Level main body 2 Data processing apparatus 11 Main body block 13A, 13B Smooth surface 16 Rotation axis 17 Pendulum 20 Main scale 21 Detector 22 Index scale 37 Digital display.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A main body block having a smooth bottom surface, a pendulum supported on the main body block so as to be pivotable about an axis parallel to the smooth surface, and an inclination of the pendulum with respect to the main body block is determined by an electric motor. An angle detecting means for detecting the signal as a signal; and a display means.
A data processing device for processing an air signal and displaying it on the display means
The data processing device includes an electronic signal from the angle detection means.
Signal processing circuit that outputs the signal as a pulse signal, and this signal
A counter for counting pulses from the signal processing circuit,
Assuming that the leveling key is pressed, the counter
The peak value when the counting operation is reversed is set in advance.
Number of times, add those counts and
Estimating the final inclination angle and then displaying the average on the display means
Level, characterized in that it is configured to include a circuit. 2. The level according to claim 1, wherein
The data processor has a zero set key and a 1/2 set key.
The counter when the zero set key is pressed.
Set the count number to 0, and
When the set key is pressed, the count of the counter
And a counter control circuit for setting to １ ／.
A spirit level characterized by that.